Airbus Wins Contract to Build 340 New OneWeb Satellites for Eutelsat

Paris / Toulouse : Europe’s drive to strengthen its space-based communications infrastructure gathered further momentum after Airbus Defence and Space was awarded a new contract by Eutelsat to manufacture 340 additional low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites for the OneWeb constellation.

The latest agreement follows an earlier order for 100 satellites placed in December 2024, taking the total number of spacecraft procured to 440. The combined programme represents one of the largest satellite manufacturing efforts in Europe, underlining the growing strategic importance of LEO constellations in global connectivity.

Manufacturing and Delivery Timeline

The new satellites will be built at Airbus Defence and Space’s Toulouse facility, where a newly installed production line has been commissioned to support high-rate, industrial-scale manufacturing. Airbus said the upgraded facility is designed to meet the demanding schedule and quality standards required for large LEO constellations.

Deliveries are scheduled to begin from the end of 2026, with satellites launched and deployed progressively. This phased introduction is intended to ensure uninterrupted service continuity as older OneWeb satellites are gradually retired.

Strengthening European Space Sovereignty

Airbus described the programme as a further step in reinforcing European space sovereignty, particularly in the area of secure and resilient satellite communications. As geopolitical and commercial competition in orbit intensifies, European operators and governments are placing greater emphasis on domestically built and controlled infrastructure.

The expanded OneWeb programme aligns with broader European efforts to maintain independent access to critical space technologies and reduce reliance on non-European broadband systems.

Current OneWeb Constellation and Replacement Strategy

OneWeb’s existing LEO network consists of more than 600 satellites operating across 12 synchronised orbital planes at an altitude of around 1,200 kilometres. The constellation delivers global, low-latency coverage, supporting enterprise, mobility, aviation, maritime and government communications.

The newly ordered satellites will replace early-generation spacecraft nearing the end of their operational life. By introducing next-generation satellites on a rolling basis, Eutelsat aims to maintain full service availability while steadily enhancing network performance.

Technology Upgrades and New Capabilities

The next generation of OneWeb satellites will feature advanced digital channelisers, significantly improving onboard processing, efficiency and flexibility in managing network capacity. Airbus has also introduced an optimised satellite architecture designed for long-term reliability and extended mission life.

In parallel, Eutelsat plans to assess new commercial opportunities, including hosted payload capabilities, allowing third parties to integrate dedicated services onto the OneWeb platform.

Industry Reaction

“This latest contract from Eutelsat is an endorsement of our design and manufacturing expertise for LEO satellites,” said Alain Fauré, Head of Space Systems at Airbus Defence and Space. He noted that Airbus has been a key partner to Eutelsat for more than 30 years, with the new award further strengthening the relationship.

Jean-François Fallacher, Chief Executive Officer of Eutelsat, said the company was pleased to continue working with Airbus, adding that the new satellites will ensure service continuity for a growing customer base while supporting Eutelsat’s long-term growth strategy in the LEO market.

With production ramping up in Toulouse and deployments planned for the latter part of the decade, the expanded OneWeb programme places Eutelsat and Airbus at the centre of Europe’s low Earth orbit ambitions. As demand for low-latency global connectivity accelerates, the latest satellite order signals strong confidence in both the technology and the commercial future of Europe’s LEO broadband ecosystem.